via smashingmagazine.com => original post link
Many projects start with assumptions. We assume that users understand hamburger icons and how mega-menus work; that they understand how to deal with disabled buttons; that they safely store passwords and access recovery keys — and are delighted when identifying crosswalks and fire hydrants.
Assumptions, however, are often wrong. People are very, very good at finding loopholes and shortcuts. They are also incredibly good at bending the rules to make things work best for them. That’s why we end up with passwords placed on sticky notes and onboarding tutorials being notoriously skipped. As it happens, this shows up in many different ways.
Pssst! This article is part of our ongoing series on design patterns. It’s also a part of Smart Interface Design Patterns 🍣 and is available in the Live Interface Design Training 🍕 as well.